Manifold forms



Dec. 8, 1964 RQ N. EICHORN ETAL MANIFOLD FORMS Filed NOV. 5, 1962 QQbOAOpOJObO|QOQ OOOOOOOOWOOOO- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /Nl/EA/TORS ROBERT N. EICHORN CHARLES HOLOVKA, JR.

DeC- 8, 1964 R. N. Elcl-loRN ETAL 3,160,424

MANIFOLD FoRMs Filed Nov. 5, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 anon noon canon 00 Q Q Q MF 7 "DOW QUOT uvuu v FIG. v5

United States Patent Giifice 3,160,424 Fatented Dec. 8, 1964 3,160,424 MANEFOLD FORMS Robert N. Eichorn and Charles Holovlra, Jr., Endicott, NX., assignors to international Business Machines Cor poration, New York, NX., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 235,443 Claims. (Cl. 282-115) This invention relates to manifold forms and more particularly to multi-ply continuous forms which usually consist of a writing sheet and one or more copy sheets with carbon sheets interleaved.

Manifold forms are usually folded backwardly and forwardly on the transverse lines of severance so as to produce a hat assembly from which the manifold form can be fed continuously over a writing or printing platen. And such manifold forms have conventionally been provided with evenly spaced edge perforations or side Carrier strips having evenly spaced perforations whereby the forms may be fed by pinwheel, pin feeding tractors or other pin feeding devices which align the various sheets, all as is well known in the art.

There are many problems involved when marginally punched manifold forms of the type hereinabove set forth are to be processed through business machines operating at high speeds, and particularly high speed printers. tabulators and the like. Such machines today preferably make use of tractor type pin feeds which are capable of very high speeds of operation. Of particular concernare the problems of providing forms which will have greater strength in order to permit the higher ultimate form feed speed which is available, of providing forms which will feed in a substantially straighter and more accurate line to prevent sagging lines of print across the form, and of providing forms which will fold and stack as flat as possible. These problems result from the fact that when manifold forms having marginally punched feed holes are fed by the pin tractors located at each side of the form, only one set of aligned feed holes on each side of the form will be fully engaged with the driving pins on the pin tractors at one time. Consequently, it has been found that particularly during intermittent high speed line spacing operation the form material surrounding the two sets of aligned feed holes generally does not possess sutlicient strength to stand up against the driving force of the pin feed, tractors and ultimately deformation of the marginal feed holes occurs which results in inaccurate and skewed feeding of the form. This is particularly true when the forms are increased in Width because the mass of paper to be moved is increased while the resistance of the form material to deformation remains the same for all widths of forms. 'This problem has seriously limited the tolerable speed of operation of the pin feed devices.

Several means have been employed for holding together the individual sheets of manifold forms. For example, stapies, stitching and interlocked tongues have beenused to'satisfactorily hold the sheets and still allow for limited movement so as to not interfere with folding operations or with the aligning function of the feeding pins. In the case of manifold forms having marginal perforations along each side or side carrier strips which have the perforations, the particular fastening means used is generally positioned either near one marginal edge of the form or on one of the carrier strip portions. As a result, upon backward and forward folding of the form on transverse lines there will be la'stacls build-up along one side in the area of the fastening means and a uniform flat stack is not obtained. Because of this build-up, `many forms are torn and inverted to form a more uniform stack. This cuts in half the length of forms available for continuous operation of a printing machine. Also, protruding fastening elements oftentimes interfere with theV feeding of the forms through the printing station of the machine.

In solving the problems set forth above there is provided a new and improved manifold form which has distinct advantages both in use and in manufacture over the conventional manifold forms presently in use. `In the present form, a combination of lateral feed holes and chad fasteners are disposed on a medial strip across the width of the form. The use of a lateral medial strip across the width of the form wastes less paper than the use of the two carrier strips running full length on conventional forms and an additional important advantage obtained is that several widths of forms may be fed' through a printing machine without the necessity of'v adjusting the pin feeding devices. The plurality of feed holes disposed 'laterally across the form will all be simultaneously engaged by driving pins and hencevthe form affords greater strength and can be fed at much higher speeds. Another advantage is that the strength of this type of form is proportional to both Athe width and the weight since the number of feed holes provided which will simultaneously be engaged by driving pins increases as the width of the form is increased. It was also found out that due to the uniform distribution of feed holes across the form, much straighter lines of print were obtained yacross the form than was possible when side perforations were used. l

In the present form, a row of chad fasteners are provided which extend across the medial strip in alternating fashion with the pin feed holes. And by having a row of chads wherein the chads alternately extend in opposite angular directions, it was found that the holding power was greatly increased. Additionally, the configuration of chad fastening and feed holes employed provides smooth, hourglass shaped strap hinges of residual material for zig-zag folding which results in increased strength and which eliminates the problem of build-up. This'is in contrast to the conventional row of cuts or perforations which, when reverse folded, become highly stressed yseats tions are disposed in a row along a medial strip area f which extends transversely across the form.

A further object of the present invention is to providean improved multi-ply manifold form having chad fast? ening means which enables `zig-zag folding'of the form without the occurrence of build-up. A stillfurther object of the present invention is to provide an improved multi-plymanifold form wherein pin feed perforations and chad fasteners are alternately disposed in a row along a medial 'strip area which extends transversely across the form.`

A still further object of theA invention isto provide an improved 'multi-ply manifold form wherein pin feed perforations `and splicing perforatio'us are" alternately dis-'- posed in a row along a medial strip area which extends transversely across the form. e

A still further object of the present inventionristo pro- "i vide improved manifold forms adapted to be fed by high speed `pin feeding devices or the like, whichform's possessv a feeding strength which is proportional to lthe width and weight of the forms.

Another object of the present inventionisto provide irri@- lproved manifold formsy in continuousrstripswhich are Si stronger, more reliable and more economical to manufacture and from which cut forms may be obtained which will have clean edges and no perforations.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the yfollowing more particular description of preferred embodiment of the invention, Vas illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Y

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view showing a manifold form of continuous strips constructed in 'accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a fragmentary portion of the form shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the conliguration of the chad fasteners. g Y Y FIG. 3 is a fragmentary p respective view showing 'a portion of the form of FIG. 1 folded along the center line of the medial strip area. i

FIG. 4 is an'elevation view showing the forms of FIG. 1 folded in zig-'zag fashion.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan of continuous card forms provided (with lateral feed holes in1accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. l, the present improved'manifold continuous form 1u is shown as distinguishing from the f conventional type continuous form in that there are no marginal carrierrstrips with feed holes or marginal edge perforrnations. Instead the form is provided Vwith medial strip portions or areas, such as indicated at 11, 12

and 13, which extend transversely across the form and,

tions 15 used for feeding purposes and chad fasteners 16 which are used to hold togetherthe individual sheets off multi-ply form 10. t i

The chad fasteners 16 are formed by making incomplete circular type cuts 17 through the sheets of the form assembly and, as shown more clearly in FIG. 2, the chads 16 alternately extend in two opposite angular directions to-provide increased holding power and to control the distions,rprotruding fastening elements, and the like.

Cil

placement of plies when folded. Also, this arrangement fof chad Vfastening provides an Vhourg'lass shaped strap' hinge 18 of residual material between cuts. Inzg-zag folding of the form on thece'nterV line of the medial strips 11 and 13, the'hourglass shaped strap hinges 18 prevent the fold from taking place abruptly at one pointV thereby eliminating possible fracture along the fold line., Also,

these strap lngesrnake it Vpossible to zig-zag fold the forms with no build-up occurring in the chad area since splice holes and chad lfasteners are jjlreferably1Af inch in' diameter With the chads 16'Ndisposed vkat 1K5 degree angles from the center line/of the medial strip. Widths of 8, 12 yand 16 inches andV up to` 4 plies are recommended'with the forms separated by'cutting.` If additional Vcopies are'required, the formskmaybe run piggy back style.- In the manufacture of they forms, by laying downprint cylinder images 1, 2, 3V or`74 the''single-form, as between medial strips 11 and 12, may be ,printed for cutting at l2, 6, 4 or 3 inches in length. Y

YThe present improved y form, in addition'to possessing Y greater strength W'hichrwill permithigher ultimate form Y feed speed, lallows'for'cutforms which willhave allgedges the strap hinges 18 can reverse* fold independently of the i straight and clear and which will be devoid of any perfora- Also, as previously noted, all widths of forms may be processed through a printing machine without adjusting the forms V'feeding tractors. This may be accomplished by providing the conventional formstractor arrangement of the printing machine With an interchangeable endless carrier belt having spaced rows of laterally disposed feed pins or gripper elements. Carrier belt arrangements for feeding forms of the present type are disclosed and claimed in common assignees copending U.S. patent application Serial No.f235,437 and led on evendate with the present'application. Splicing'together of the forms may be accomplished by superposing a strip of splicing tape over the medial strip area 12 of the forms to be spliced and projecting tabs cut in the splicing tape through the splicing holes 14a. Means for carrying out this type of'splicing operation is disclosed and claimed inV common assignees copending U.S. patent application Serial No. 235,444 and led on even date with the present application. Y Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a continuous tabulating card form 19 of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent 2,700,556 which issued to R. H. I-Iolrnwood on January 25, 1955. The form disclosed'in said patent has been modified and improved by eliminating side carrier strips and providing pin feed holes 20 across the disposable medial strip areas 21. In addition to the aforementioned advantages of using transverse rows of feed holes in continuous forms, the elimination of the side carrier strips from the continuous tabulating card form resulted in a 14 percent saving in material thereby reducing the cost of the card forms.`

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments there* of, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that Y various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.r

What is claimed is:

`l. .A manifold continuous form adapted to be fed by high-speed -pinfeeding 'means` and which comprises,

a plurality of strips in overlying relationship,

each 'ofr said strips being divided by a plurality of spaced transverse medial striprareas into a plurality ofindividual forms,

every other one of said medial strip -areasbeing provided with a row of alternately disposed pin feed holes and chad fasteners arranged to provide a uniform distribution of pin feed rholes across substantially the entire width of the form, and the remaining ones of said medial strip areas being provided with a row of alternately disposed pin feed holes and spliceholes arranged to provide a uniform distribution of -pin feed holes across, substantially the entire width of the form, said chad fasteners serving to hold the together. 2. A manifold continuous individual strips form as set forth in claim l Y whereinsaid chad fasteners comprise,

incomplete circular cuts which extend through all of said voverlying strips and disposed on their Vrelated medial'strip areas so' that they chads in each row alternately extend in'opposite angular directions.

3. A Ymanifold continuous formY adapted to be fed'by v high-speed pin feeding means and which comprises,

a plurality of strips in overlying' relationship,

`cachot said strips being divided by Va plurality of ,equally spacedY transverse medial strip areas into a Iplurality of individual forms,

every other one ofV said vmedial strip areas each being Vprovided along its center line with a row, of alternately-disposed pin feed holes and chad fasteners v arranged to provide a uniform distribution of pin feed holes across substantially the entire width of "the form, and.V

the remaining ones of said medial strip areas each being provided along its center line with a row of alternately disposed pin feed holes and splice holes arranged to provide a uniform distribution of pin feed holes across substantially the entire Width ofthe form, said chad fasteners serving to hold the individual strips together, and the center lines of said medial strip areas carrying the alternately disposed pin feed holes and chad fasteners providing fold lines for zig-zag folding of said continuous forni. 4. A manifold continuous form adapted t0 be zig-zag folded and to be fed by high-speed pin feeding means which comprises, 1 a plurality of strips in overlying relationship, each of said strips being divided by a plurality of spaced transverse medial strip areas into a plurality of individual forms, t every other one of said medial strip areas each being provided with a row of alternately disposed pin feed holes :and chad fasteners arranged along its center line to provide a uniform distribution of pin feed holes across substantially the entire width of the form,

each said center line serving as a fold line for zig-zag 25 folding of the continuous form, and

said chad fasteners comprising incomplete circular cuts which extend through all of said strips,

said incomplete circular cuts and the adjoining pin feed holes providing strap hinges of residual material therebetween which can reverse fold independently of the chads to facilitate zig-zag folding of the continuous form without build-up in the chad fastening areas.

5. A manifold continuous form as set forth in claim 4 10 wherein,

every other chad in each row is turned in one direction to partially intersect the center line of its related medial strip area, with the remaining chads in each row turned in an opposite direction to partially intersect said center line.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Metzner et al Dec. 13, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS v Great Britain Nov. 7, 1956 

1. A MANIFOLD CONTINUOUS FORM ADAPTED TO BE FED BY HIGH-SPEED PIN FEEDING MEANS AND WHICH COMPRISES, A PLURALITY OF STRIPS IN OVERLYING RELATIONSHIP, EACH OF SAID STRIPS BEING DIVIDED BY A PLURALITY OF SPACED TRANSVERSE MEDIAL STRIP AREAS INTO A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL FORMS, EVERY OTHER ONE OF SAID MEDIAL STRIP AREAS BEING PROVIDED WITH A ROW OF ALTERNATELY DISPOSED PIN FEED HOLES AND CHAD FASTENERS ARRANGED TO PROVIDE A UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION OF PIN FEED HOLES ACROSS SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE FORM, AND THE REMAINING ONES OF SAID MEDIAL STRIP AREAS BEING PROVIDED WITH A ROW OF ALTERNATELY DISPOSED PIN FEED HOLES AND SPLICE HOLES ARRANGED TO PROVIDE A UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION OF PIN FEED HOLES ACROSS SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE FORM, SAID CHAD FASTENERS SERVING TO HOLD THE INDIVIDUAL STRIPS TOGETHER. 